Refrigeration



March 13, 1945. J. H. BEACH 2,371,214

REFRIGERATION Filed oct. 3, 1940 2 Sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Juszfice H eaclz BY @"SZMM ,ATTORNEY March 13, 1945.v .1. HQ BEACH REFRIGERATION h Filed oct. s, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR" y Jllslice Heac/z Y BY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 13,- `1945 l REFRIGERATION Justice H. Beach, Canton, hio,'assignor to The' Hoover Company, North Canton. Ohio Application October 3, 1940, Serial No. 359,482

12 Claims.

This application relates to the art of refrigeration and more particularly to a novel arrangement of refrigerating mechanism and control system so" constructed and arranged that variable temperatures may be provided in a compartment for the purpose of freezing'ice, desserts,'etc. while maintaining a substantially constant temperature in the main foodstuffs refrigerating chamber all with the same cooling unit.

It is a common objection to present refrigerating machines that necessary variations in the evaporator temperatures to control the rate of ice production or to freeze desserts at a desired rate concomitantly produces objectionable variations in the temperature of the foodstuffs storage y compartment causing an undesirable drying and even freezing of the foodstuffs under some conditions of operation and allowing the temperature of the refrigerating compartment to exceed safe food storage values under other `conditions of operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 'refrigerating mechanism which overcomes the above mentioned diniculties vinvention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken iny connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a partially diagrammatic and partially sectional view of an absorption refrigerating mechanism embodying the present invention.

,Figure 2 is a perspective ,view drawn to an enlarged scale of the cooling unit'utilized in connection with the invention, and

Figure 3 is a perspective viewdrawn to an enlarged scale of the cooling unit, freezing chamber housing and control mechanism.

condenser C, an evaporator E, a gas heat exchanger G, an inclined tubular air-cooled absorber A, a liquid heat exchanger L, avsolution reservoir S, .and a gas circulating pump F which is driven by a suitable electrical motor M. These elements are suitably connected by various conduits` to form a, plurality of gas and liquid oircuits constituting a complete refrigerating mechanism. The boiler B is heated by a suitable uid fuel burner H which is controlled by a solenoid valve V.

The above described refrigerating system will be charged with a suitable refrigerant, such as ammonia, a suitable solvent therefor, such as4 water, and an inert pressure equalizing medium,

preferably a dense inert gas like nitrogen.

The boiler-analyzer, absorber, liquid heat exchanger and solution reservoir S are connected by suitable conduits as illustrated to form an absorption solution circuit. Weak solution from the boiler B is conveyed lto the upper portion of the absorber A by way of the conduit II, liquid heat exchanger L, conduit l2, solution reservoir S, and gas lift circulating pump I3. The gas lift pump circulating conduit I3 discharges into the suction conduit I4 of the circulating fan F and the upper portion of the reservoir S is vented by means of a conduit I5. to thev conduit I4. Pumping gas is conveyed from the discharge conduit I6 of the circulating fan to the gas lift pump I3 by means of the conduit I1. Enriched solution is conveyed from the bottom portion of the absorber to the analyzer D by way of the conduit I8, liquid heat exchanger L and the conduit I9.

The refrigerant vapor evolved'in the boileranalyzer is conveyed from the upper portion of duit I4 to the circulating fan is conveyed there- Referring now to the .drawings in detail and first to Figure I thereof, there is illustrated an absorption refrigerating mechanism of the threefluid type comprising a boiler B, an analyzer D,

'an air-cooled rectifier R. a tubular air-cooled from to the bottom portion of the evaporator E by way of the conduit I6, gas heat exchanger G and levaporator gas supply conduit 22. After traversing the evaporator the resulting rich inert'gas is then conveyed.l to the bottom portion of the absorber A by way of the conduit 23, gas heat exchanger G, and the conduit 24. Y

The refrigerant vapor condensed. in the condenser C is conveyed therefrom to the evaporator gas inlet conduit 22 at the bottom portion of the evaporator by means of the conduit 2li and the U-shaped conduit 27. 'Ihe condenser side of the U-shaped conduit 21 is vented by means of a conduit 28 to the rich gas side of the gas heat ex changer G.

As is more clearly shown in Figure 2, the evaporator E comprises a plurality of substantially horizontal parallel and vertically spaced coil sections 30 which are serially connected by the riser conduits 3| and 32. The gas supply conduit 22 connects the lowest of the horizontal sections 30. The highest of the sections 3u connects to a vertically extending coil section 35 which is positioned vertically in the rear of the coil section 30. 'I'he bottom portion of the coil section 35 then connects directly to the rich gas discharge conduit 23.

The bottom portionof the coil 35 is drained by means of a conduit 36 which includes a U-shaped liquid trapping portion to a drain conduit 31 which connects between the top portion of the bottom coil section 30 on the rich gas side of the gas heat exchanger G as is shown in Figure l.

The evaporator E is of the type in which the inert gas is propelled through the evaporator with a velocity and pressure suiicient to sweep or drag the liquid refrigerant therethrough by the frictional drag of the inert gas stream flowing in contact with the liquid. This insures positive distribution of the liquid through all vportions of the evaporating conduit. noted that the liquid refrigerant and inert gas traverse the freezing coils 30 in their entirety before reaching the vertically extending coil 35.

The evaporator E, with the exception of the vertically extending coil 35 and the gas connecting conduits 22 and 23, is encased within a housing 40 which is provided with a movable door 4I. Suitable tray supporting shelves 42 overlie the bottom and intermediate coils 3U to form supports for ice freezing trays. The side walls 44 of the casing 40 extend rearwardly, as is clearly shown in Figure 3, to a distance sufiicient to extend beyond the coil section 35 and the ilns 45- mounted thereon as shown in Figure l.

Referring now to Figure l, the apparatus is assembled with a cabinet construction 46 which is provided with a food compartment 41. The rear wall of the cabinet46 is provided with an opening 43 which is designed to be closed by an insulated panel 49 and a sealing gasket 50. The refrigerating mechanism, the evaporator casing and the panel 49 are assembled outside the cabinet assembly. The refrigerating mechanism and the panel 49 are then assembled with the cabinet as a unit simply by sliding the cooling unit through the o'pening 48 and the panel 49 into the opening 48 after which the sealing gasket 50 is placed in position.

' As may readily be seen from Figure 1, the rearwardly extending wings on the side walls 44.0f the cooling unit abut the inner face of the panel 49 to form an open ended channel housing the vertically extending coil 35 and the fins 45 mounted thereupon, thus forming a iiue for air circulating within the compartment 41.

The apparatus is provided with a suitable control mechanism 60 which is mounted upon the outside face of the panel 49 and at the upper portion thereof. This mechanism may be of any desired type, for example that illustrated and described in the application of Curtis C. Coons, Serial No. 148,424, led June 16, 1937, now Patent No. 2,228,343, dated Jan. 14, 1941, and application of Arnold D. Siedle and William H. Kitto, Serial No. 160,274, led August 21. 1937, now Patent No. 2,262,656, dated November 1l, 1941, or the control mechanism 60 may simply consist of It should bea thermostatic switch operated to respond to the temperature of the bottom evaporator coil E by means of the control bulb 6| which is connected to the bellows within the element 60 by means of capillary conduits 62. A suitable adjusting shaft 63 extends from the control mechanism 60 through the panel 49 and across the top of the casing 40 where it terminates in a control knob 64 mounted in front of an indicia bearing panel 65. The control mechanism 60 is connected to a suitable source of electrical energy by means of a conductor 66 and to the circulatingfmotor M by means of a conductor 61. The circulating motor M and the solenoid control valve V for the burner H are connected by means of a conductor 68 and the solenoid valve V then connects to a source of electrical energy by means of a conductor 69, thus completing the electrical circuit. When the thermostatic mechanism operates to complete the circuit between the conductors 61 and 66, the circulating motor M is placed in operation and the valve V is energized and moved to open position, thus placing the apparatus in operative condition.

Adjustment of the knob 64 determines the temperature carried on the evaporator; that is, it adjusts the control point of the thermostatic switching mechanism 6U.

The upper end of the flue housing the boxcooling coil 35 is arranged to be controlled by movably mounted dampers 10 which are journaled in ears 'H formed ori the side walls 44 of the casing 40. The dampers 10 are operated by a pair of spiral beveled gears 12, one of which is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 63 and the other of which is journaled with and rigidly attached to the dampers 10. Consequently rotation of the adjusting dial knob 64 not only regulates the control point of the evaporator E but also adjusts the position of the dampers 10.

The operation of the invention is as follows;

For every given control point for which the'thermostatic mechanism 60 may be set the housing 40 has a, definite capacity for maintaining safe refrigerating temperatures within the compartment 41. However, this capacity is insuiiicient to maintain the load within the compartment 41 except when the element 64 has adjusted the control mechanism 60 Ito maintain the lowest possible temperature at the evaporator E which would correspond for example to a very fast freezing rate for freezing desserts and the like. On the other hand, the combination of the boxcooling capacity of the casing 40 and the coil 35 is too great for the load except when the temperature of the evaporator E is set at its highest normal operating figure. Therefore, the spiral bevel gears 12 and dampers 10 are so arranged that the damper 10 is in the full line position, shown in Figure 1, that is, in position completely to prevent air flow across the coil 35 when the dial 64 has been adjusted for the lowest temperature setting of the thermostatic mechanism and the damper 10 will assume the vertical position indicated in dotted lines in Figure l; thatl is, the complete open position for the flue housing the coil 35 when the knob 64 has been adjusted to the highest normal operating temperature condition. In between these two extremes the damper 10 will assume various within the compartment 41 is maintained substantially constant at some pre-selected optimum value, as a result of which foodstuis are neither in danger of freezing nor are they'in danger of deterioration because tof too high a temperature being carried within the compartment 41.

The present invention provides a means by which the box-cooling load is proportioned in various ratlos between the nned coil 35 and the freezing chamber casing 40 at varying temperature settings of the thermostatic control mechanism. Therefore, a single cooling unit is provided which is so arranged as to carry varying temperature conditions within the freezing chamtrolling the circulation of air across said cool,

ing unit to maintain optimum refrigerating conditions in said chamber.

2. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigerating chamber, a cooling unit in said chamber comprising a refrigerating compartment and an air cooling coil, control means for setting the effectiveV temperature carried by said cooling unit, and means operated by said iii-st mentioned means for controlling the circulation of air across said cooling unit to maintain optimum refrigerating conditions in said chamber.

-3. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an insulated refrigerating chamber, a cooling unit including a freezing compartment and an air cooling element positioned within said chamber, means for supplying a cooling medium to said cooling unit, thermostatic means for controlling the supply of cooling medium to said cooling unit in response to the temperature thereof, meansv for controlling the effective air flow across said air cooling element, and a manually operable control knob and associated motion transmitting l means for adjusting said thermostatlc means and said air ilow control means to regulate the temperature of said compartment and the temperature of said chamber.

4. .Refrigerating apparatus comprising an insulated refrigerating chamber, a cooling unit ining element positioned within said chamber, means for supplying a cooling medium to said cooling unit, thermostatic means for controlling the supply of cooling medium to said cooling unit in response to the temperature thereof,- damper means for controlling the ow of air across said by said refrigerating mechanism, control-nicchanlsm for said refrigerating mechanism, manually adjustable means for regulating the control point of said control mechanism,a.nd means for regulating the ilow of air across the air cooling portion of said cooling unit constructed and arranged to be operated bysaid manually adjustable means.

6. Refrigerating apparatus co'mprising an insulated refrigerating compartment having a cooling unit receiving opening in its' rear wall, refrigerating apparatus associated with said compartment comprising a cooling unit having a freezing portion andl an air cooling-portion within said compartment, a closure element for said opening, a housing" enclosing 'the freezing portion of said cooling unit,A the air cooling portion of said cooling unit being positioned between the rear wall of said housing and said closure element, rearwardly extending flanges on said hous-l ing arranged to form an open ended air flue housing the air cooling portion of said cooling unit, control mechanism for said cooling unit, damper 'means for controlling thel ow of air through said iiue, and manually operable means for regulating said control means and said damper means.

'7.V Refrigerating apparatus comprising an insulated refrigerating compartment having a cooling unit receiving opening in its rear Wall, refrigerating apparatus associated with said compartment comprising a cooling unit having a freezing portion and an air cooling portion within said compartment, a closure element v:for said opening,

a housing enclosing the freezing portion of said cooling unit, the air cooling portion of said cooling unit being positioned between the rear wall of said housing and'said closure element, rearwardly extending ilanges on said housing arranged to form an open ended airue housing the air cooling portion of Asaid cooling unit, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of said coolingl unit arranged to control therefrigerating effect thereof. said thermostatic means being mounted upon said closure element on the exterior thereof, a damper mounted on said housing to open or closesaid air flue, an adjusting knob mounted at the frontof said housing, and a rigid motion transmitting means operably connecting said knob to lsaid means and to said.

damper.

8. Refrigerating apparatus including an evaporator having a plurality of serially connected freezing coils and an air cooling coil, means for circulating an inert gas through said evaporator in a direction to traverse said freezing coils prior cluding a freezing compartment and an air cooll to traversing said air cooling coil with a'velocity for adjusting said evaporator temperature reh sponsive means to select the value o'f said predetermined temperature, and means operated by said adjusting means for governing the eiective air now across said evaporator.

9. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an in- Y sulated refrigerating compartment, a freezing receptacle support in said` compartment, a chilling unit having a part arranged to refrigerate said support and another part arranged to refrigerate the air in said compartmentycontrol means for regulating the temperature setting of said chilling unit, means for governing the circulation of air over said air refrigerating part of said chilling unit, and common means for regulating each of said means to decrease air ow past said chilling unit as the temperature setting thereof is reduced and to increase air flow past said chilling unit as the temperature setting thereof is increased.

10. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet structure, a cooling unit in said cabinet structure having a freezing portion and an air cooling portion provided with an extensive heat transfer surface, a casing around said freezing portion, means for supplying a refrigerant medium to said cooling unit, control means arranged to respond to the temperature of said freezing portion for controlling said refrigerant medium supply means, means for governing the circulation of air in heat exchange relation with said air` cooling portion, a manually operable regulating device, and means for transmitting movement of said regulating device to said control means to regulate the control point thereof and to said air circulating governing means to decrease circulation of air in heat exchange relation with said air cooling portion as the control point of said control means is lowered'.

1l. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an insulated refrigerating compartment, a refrigerating mechanism including a cooling unit having a freezing portion and an air cooling portion in said refrigerating compartment, means forming a freezing housing around said freezing portion of said cooling unit, control means for regulating .the temperature of said chilling unit, damper means for regulating the ilow of air in heat exchange with said air cooling portion of said cooling unit, and actuating means for simultaneously adjusting said control means and said damper means.

cooling unit and to operate said regulating means to vary the tlow of air in heat exchange relation with said cooling unit.

JUSTICE H. BEACH. 

